Happy Birthday Xena

Xena, consider this a birthday present for you. So what have I been doing? Umm, not much, hence the lack of blog posts. It is day 45, the half way point of P90X for me, woot woot. Is it working? Yes. Do I look like the infomercial? No. I don't follow the recommended diet plan, so I can't complain. My thighs feel a bit firmer and my stomach does as well. I should have taken measurements and pictures before I started. There is increased definition in my arms, back, and shoulders. And there must be some general change in my torso shape, because when shopping for new clothes I can fit into small shirts about as often as mediums now. However, this is kind of a mystery because my bra size remains frustratingly static. How is that possible? Shouldn't I at least be seeing a decrease in the band size, if not the cup size? I guess I shouldn't complain too much, if the band size did decrease without a corresponding decrease in cup size, I'd be off into unknown letters of the alphabet. Seriously, my whole goal was to get The Rack down to something approaching normal and it just won't shrink. Gee I wonder if it is all the god damn peanut butter and chocolate chips I eat or that P90X is primarily a strength training program and not a weight loss program? Nah, it is because the universe hates me.

So this is the dilemma. I really like P90X because I get off on lifting heavy stuff and I hate cardio. But, if I really want to lift the ultimate heavy thing, me, then I need to lean out. That's right, I'm back to wanting to do a pull up. Problem is, according to the internets I need to drop another 25lbs for this to be realistic. It is kind of sad that I look like an elf, and it is still not enough. Is it realistic for me to get lean? Debatable. It isn't going to happen doing P90X, that is for sure. The 15lbs stuck on my chest is impervious to P90X. The internets says I should start doing the Shaun T Insanity workouts in place of the P90X cardio days to burn more calories. If you told me a couple of years ago I would be ordering exercise programs off of the TV I would have laughed in your face and said screw that I'll be getting the Ron Popiel Food Dehydrator. My sisters and I have wanted that since the early 90s:) Did you know that his daughter Lauren, the one who makes the strawberry fruit roll up with her friend in the infomercial, (she is about 12 at the time) ended up dating Justin Timberlake for a minute a few years ago. How funny is that? So yeah, to lean or not to lean, that is the question. I'm going keep on, keeping on, and at the end of 90 days we'll see where I'm at strength wise. If I don't think the strength is there, I'm not going to bother trying to get lean. If I can do the negative move (lower myself down from the bar in a controlled manner) then I'll probably dive into Insanity, how very appropriate:) So there you have it, Happy Birthday!

Jigga Whaaa?

So I just read a list of 10 "Best New Romantic Getaways" According to Bon Appetit you should "Liven up your winter with a quick trip to these spots that have stellar food, a warm welcome, and a certain off-the-beaten-path appear." On that list....june in Peoria Heights....I mean I am sure it is great restaurant and I am all about the Peoria area getting some good press, but come on! What the heck about Central Illinois screams romantic getaway? I can support the off-the-beaten path aspect, but romantic getaway, ummm not so much.

Evenings with my yenta

So part of the greiving process is spending every non working moment with my sister. Really, not that much different than normal. Bear and I have been working on getting back on the horse...that horse being match.com. Remember when eharmony called me an asshole? Oh, yeah I remember. So Bear has some highlights over at her blog, you should check it out.

New Year's Post

So I have been inspired by Sister Bear to look back at 2009 and name my top 3 events. Suffice to say, 2009 was was real roller coaster.

1. I got unfat and Shredded. In fairness that process started in 2008, but the most intense work was done in the beginning of 2009. "Moderation" in 2008 took me from obese to overweight, but I wanted to be average. The light bulb came on, if I was going to eat in "moderation" I was always going to be moderately fat. I am 5'1", my resting pulse is 54 beats, my blood pressure is 106/62, even my breathing is slow! I have no metabolism. So 2009 started with calorie restriction (carefully monitoring fiber, protein, calcium and taking a multivitamin) which finally made the unfat goal (BMI in the average range) obtained around June of 2009. 70 lbs gone. From on my way to morbid obesity to average. Yay average! I started The 30 Day Shred. I still do it almost everyday and lost another 5lbs and gained a ton of muscle. Pretty crazy, from quickly approaching a size 20 down to a size 2 jeans by August of 2009. I don't care if that is vain, you can suck it. The world is a much nicer place when you are thin. It is unfortunate, but that is reality. I do have much more energy, my cholesterol levels are insanely awesome, and I am very strong if that makes you feel better :) Sometimes I flirt with the idea of losing the last 25lbs to get lean enough to do a pull up, but let's face it, my face would just get more hatchet-like, my butt would get flatter, and I'd still have a ginormous rack. You can't fight genetics. So I am working on maintaining, well in truthfulness getting the 5 holiday pounds back off. Goal for 2010, stay vigilant.

2. Bear moved to town in June. Yay Bear! I love her and Yoshie dearly. I can't imagine not living next to them ever again. She just provides so much companionship, support, and help. Any task I have to do, she will help and it will go more than twice as fast. Yoshie is always good for a laugh. Bear and I are high strung and his levity is good for us. I am so glad that we are growing as friends. My sister is now one of my Besties. Goal for 2010, convince Tottie to move to Peoria too :)

3. Fall of 2009, fell in love, awww. It was very fun and all encompassing and a real learning experience. Unfortunately, the beginning of 2010 has left me pondering the old question, "Is it better to have loved and lost than to have never loved at all?" And that sucks, hardcore. I'm still in the grief stage, but life goes on. I can't let this define my 2010. Goal for 2010, find a new man. Well men, you can't stick with the rebound :)

So that's my top three. Not mentioned were getting the new apartment in October (yay), Xena moving to Singaport in August (boo), getting really good feedback at work including a raise despite a wage freeze (yay, but still boo cause they took away the 401k match and have announced more of the same in 2010). Here's hoping for more yays than boos in 2010.

For Xena in Singapatch

Some pics of the semi new apartment. I love it. I should have moved eons ago. Got my first utility bill...$28, hahaha, for the whole month. I only have to pay electric. How am I ever going to buy a house? Seriously $28 and I can take as many long hot showers and keep the thermostat up as high as I want. Note: I do not waste too many resources :) When you first walk in, you face the bathroom. The laundry room (yes a whole room) is on the left and the little hall to the bedroom is on the right.


Finally I have a headboard like a real person. I love it. It is gray, velvet, and tufted. Unfortunately it looks too classy for my duvet cover. So I am on the hunt for a new one. Also the bedside table is going. I found the perfect thing at Macys online. However they won't ship to Peoria and it costs $80 to ship to Bear's Mother in Law in Springfield. Get with the times Macys, ship to store. I am sure a truck comes to Peoria put my shit on it and if the truck is already going to Springfield don't charge me $80, let me come get it at the store.Walk in closet, Yay!
Turning left and looking into the main area. Kitchen on the left, dining room table, aka junk catcher on the right. Living room straight ahead. The giant window is a slider out to a tiny balcony. It was too bright for a good pic. For the first time in 11 days the sun is shining.

Tiny kitchen, that actually is perfect sized, because of the tons of counter space, good amount of cabinets and small floor to mop. Oh that's right, I actually mop floors now. I have turned over a new non dirty leaf.

Standing with my back to the slider. There's your chair. Normally the yoga mat isn't in it, but I had just vacuumed. Oh yeah, vacuuming.

So request fulfilled. Now maybe in 2 months I will post some Christmas pics.

It is Christmas Time!

So I have a new apartment. I should have moved the week after Trompy moved in 2 years ago. It is so quiet here. I am on the top floor. I am now the Tromper, and I love it. In preparation for the move, I got rid of a lot of junk. I am living much lighter in a many aspects of my life these days. However, for Christmas I need a little bit of "stuff." This is my Christmas tree. It is a little light up ceramic version that is similar to the one my Great Aunt Mildred had. I have some fond memories of her from when I was little. She always had her ceramic tree displayed with little plastic deer. Not reindeer, regular ones. So that is what I have too. Hers was set out on a cheesy, white, cotton batting roll with glitter. That is hard to find these days, so I have cheesy, white, "angel hair" instead. It is very fun. The perfect amount of Christmas.

Someday I Will Laugh About This, Just Not Today

So God smoted me, karma kicked my ass, whatever it was, a large portion of my hair was burned beyond recognition late Thursday night. My straightener malfunctioned and I didn't realize what was happening until it was too late. It is pretty horrific. There is nothing to be done. You can't un denature proteins. Such is life, and it is my life for six to eight months...It can look okay from a distance if there is enough assorted gels on what is left of it, but the texture, oh the texture. What a way to start my 28th year. I am trying to get over it. I don't have The Cancer, it will grow back. But damn, it sucks. I haven't burst into tears over it in almost 24 hours, so that is progress. We will see how getting ready for work tomorrow goes. For a more humorous look at the incident head here.